unravel – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Ado
• Album: Adoの歌ってみたアルバム

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw emotion and intricate storytelling of "unravel," the iconic opening theme of *Tokyo Ghoul*, originally performed by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure and notably covered by Ado. This song is a masterclass in conveying deep psychological struggle through its powerful lyrics and dynamic musical shifts, making it an excellent piece for anyone looking to connect with Japanese rock and anime culture while exploring complex themes of identity and despair. Its unique vocal delivery and dramatic instrumentation offer a rich auditory experience that transcends language barriers.

[English]

Tell me, tell me, what's the mechanism?

Who's inside me?

I'm broken, I'm broken in this world

You laugh, without seeing anything

...

I'm broken, just hold my breath

I'm frozen, even the truth, I'm frozen

Can be broken, can't be broken, go mad, don't go mad

I found you

In the distorted world, I'm slowly becoming transparent

And disappearing from sight

Don't find me, don't find me

Don't stare at me

In the world someone drew, I don't want to hurt you

I don't want to hurt you

Remember me, remember me

Stay vivid

...

The loneliness that spreads infinitely is entwining me

The memories of my innocent laughter are piercing me

I'm paralyzed, I'm paralyzed, I'm paralyzed

I'm paralyzed, I'm paralyzed, I'm paralyzed

Unravelling the world

...

Things have changed, things that can't be changed

Two are intertwined, two are perishing

Can be broken, can't be broken, go mad, don't go mad

I won't let you get dirty

In the distorted world, I'm slowly becoming transparent

And disappearing from sight

Don't find me, don't find me

Don't stare at me

In the lonely trap someone set

Before the future unravels

Remember me, remember me

Stay vivid

Don't forget, don't forget

Don't forget, don't forget

Things have changed, paralyzed

A paradise full of things that can't be changed

Remember me, remember me

...

Tell me

Tell me

Who's inside me?

...

[Japanese]

教えて 教えてよ その仕組みを

僕の中に誰がいるの？

壊れた 壊れたよ この世界で

君が笑う 何も見えずに

壊れた僕なんてさ 息を止めて

ほどけない もう ほどけないよ 真実さえ freeze

壊せる 壊せない 狂える 狂えない

あなたを見つけて

揺れた 歪んだ世界にだんだん僕は

透き通って見えなくなって

見つけないで 僕のことを

見つめないで

誰かが描いた世界の中で

あなたを傷つけたくはないよ

覚えていて 僕のことを

鮮やかなまま

無限に広がる孤独が絡まる

無邪気に笑った記憶が刺さって

動けない 動けない 動けない

動けない 動けない 動けないよ

Unravelling the world

変わってしまった 変えられなかった

2つが絡まる 2人が滅びる

壊せる 壊せない 狂える 狂えない

あなたを汚せないよ

揺れた 歪んだ世界にだんだん僕は

透き通って見えなくなって

見つけないで 僕のことを

見つめないで

誰かが仕組んだ孤独な罠に

未来がほどけてしまう前に

思い出して 僕のことを

鮮やかなまま

忘れないで 忘れないで

忘れないで 忘れないで

変わってしまったことに paralyze

変えられないことだらけの paradise

覚えていて 僕のことを

教えて

教えて

僕の中に誰がいるの？

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
仕組み /shikumi/ B1	noun - mechanism
壊す /kowasu/ A2	verb - to break
狂う /kuruu/ B2	verb - to go mad
透き通る /sukitōru/ B2	verb - to become transparent
歪む /yugamu/ B1	verb - to become distorted
描く /kaku/ A2	verb - to draw
傷つける /kizutsukeru/ B1	verb - to hurt
孤独 /kodoku/ B1	noun - loneliness
罠 /wana/ B1	noun - trap
未来 /mirai/ A2	noun - future
覚える /oboeru/ A2	verb - to remember
鮮やか /azayaka/ B2	adjective - vivid
paralyze /pærəlaɪz/ C1	verb - to paralyze

Key Grammar Structures

• 教えて教えてよその仕組みを

  ➔ Imperative form + よ to seek confirmation or softening tone

  ➔ The verb "教える" (to teach / to tell) is in its imperative form, combined with よ to soften the command or seek confirmation.

• その仕組みを

  ➔ Using を to mark the direct object of the verb

  ➔ The particle "を" indicates that "その仕組み" (that mechanism / system) is the direct object of the verb "教える" (to teach / tell).

• 壊れたよこの世界で

  ➔ Adjective "壊れた" (broken) + よ for emphasis, + で indicating location

  ➔ The adjective "壊れた" (broken) is followed by よ for emphasis, and で specifies the location "この世界" (this world).

• 僕の中に誰がいるの？

  ➔ Question sentence using いるの？ as a colloquial way to ask "who is inside"

  ➔ The phrase "いるの？" is a colloquial way to form a question asking "who is inside" or "who exists" in that place.

• 変わってしまった変えられなかった

  ➔ Past tense of 変わる (to change) + しまった to express completion with a nuance of regret, and negative potential form 変えられなかった

  ➔ The verb "変わった" is the past tense of "変わる" (to change), combined with "しまった" to express a sense of regret or unintended completion, and "変えられなかった" is the negative potential form meaning "could not change".

• 未来がほどけてしまう前に

  ➔ Future tense of ほどける (to loosen, unwind) + てしまう to express completion with nuance of inevitability, + 前に indicating "before"

  ➔ The verb "ほどける" (to loosen / unwind) in future tense combined with てしまう shows an inevitable or complete action, and "前に" indicates "before" a certain point.